Knob spindle lock



March 11, 1941. M. FALK 1mm: SPINDLE LOGK Filed Sept. 9. 193a Nome/s 594/4 6'6 INVENTOR .1

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atented Mar. 11, 1941 PATENT OFFICE I Morris Falk, Leominster, Mass, assignor to Independent Lock Company, Fitchburg, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application September a, rose, serial no. ttttllod t Claims.

This invention relates generally to spindle loclrs, and more particularly to a latch type of spindle loclr having associated therewith means for locking the latch so that the door cannot be opened.

More specifically it relates to a spindle lock of the non-mortise type, that is one that may be installed by drilling or otherwise cutting small passages in the door to which it is applied, as distinguished from the mortise type of lock, the installation of which necessitates the cutting ora large rectangular opening in the door.

My invention has been disclosed herein, in its application to what is commonly lrnown as a bathroom lock, in which a locking arrangement is provided on one side of the door, namely the inside or bathroom side or the door, so that the I occupant of the bathroom can lock or unlock the hit dill

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door, while such locking or'unloclring cannot be effected from the outside, except where an emergency arrangement is provided, such as will be described in connection with my invention. However it will be understood that it is not necessarily restricted to this type of lock.

Among the general objects of my invention is the provision of a lrnob spindle lock oi the nonmortise type that is simple, compact, reliable in operation, easily installable and low in cost.

Among the more particular objects of my invention are the provision of a knob spindle lock having latch operating means and locking means both operable by one hand, the provision in a lock having latch operating means and locking means, of means interconnecting them so that the locking means may be used to operate the latch operating means, the provision in a lock having latch operating means and locking means, of means interconnecting them so that the latch operating means may be used to operate the looking means, the provision in a lock of a locking arrangement that may be accommodated inside of one of the rose plates of the latching mechanism, and the provision in a lock of an extremely simple and effective locking mechanism having characteristics resembling to some extent an intermittent drive or Geneva stop motion, whereby locking action as well as latch setting position for locking may be combined in a device of the character herein contemplated. Thus my invention has for its object the provision of a'simple and inexpensive assembly which may be combined with existing latches and associated with the spindle thereof to provide a locking and latch setting device.

'llI'o attain these objects and such further obllll. wit-359 jects as may appear herein or be hereinafter pointed out, It make reference to the accompanying drawing, forming a part hereof, in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary end view of a door having my improved door loclr applied thereto; Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the parts shown in Figure l, with the door knob removed; Figure 3 is a sectional view oi. my improved latch loch taken substantially on the. line t -t of Figures l and 6, looking in the direction oi the which the latch spindle is loclred against turning movement;

Figure t is a view similar to Figure 3, but show ing the latch spindle unlocked and turning clockwise into one of its limiting positions;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3, but showing the latch spindle unlocked and turned counter-clockwise into its other limiting position;

Figure 6. is a sectional view substantially on the line t-t of Figure 3 loolring in, the direction or the arrows, but on an enlarged scale.

Referring to the drawing in detail the numeral l t therein designates a portion of a door provided with a bore it through which runs the square spindle it of a latch mechanism of conventional type. A pair of door knobs [It and it are shown at either end of the spindle, being held thereon by screws it in the customary manner. A pair of rose or escutcheon plates it and it, held in place on the door by screws til are alsoprovided, and the latch spindle it passes through openings it therein. At a l is shown a seat for the hub portion of each door lrnob, and the two seats provide the hearings in which the door lcnob and spindle combination turns. Manipulation of the door knobs and the consequent movement of the latch spindle will serve to operate the latch bolt ill, which is shown as slidable in a shell or lining ill positioned in a bore extending inward from the edge or the door toward the bore it. The operating mechanism for the bolt is not shown; it will be understood that it is of conventional type.

So far I have described only the parts of a latching mechanism of a type in common use. I will now proceed to descibe the features that characterize the illustrative embodiment of my invention.

There is shown a plate it on which is mounted the parts or my improved locking arrangement, and this plate is shown as positioned underneath and inside the rose plate ill and as held in place on the door by screws 34 or any other preferred means.

Pivotally mounted on the plate 32 is a disc 36.

arrows, and showing the parts in a position in The details of its pivotal mounting may include a bushed extension 31 on the disc, journalled in a suitable opening in the plate 32 and surrounded by a washer 38 to reduce friction. The disc 36 is provided with a square opening 39 through which the latch spindle l4 passes in close engagement and whereby the disc is constrained to move with the latch spindle.

The disc 36 may be described as of generally circular contour with portions cut away therefrom to give it the peculiar configuration shown in the drawing.

Means are shown for limiting the turning of the disc 36. Such means comprise a recessed portion 48 terminating in shoulders or abutments 42 and 43 adapted to engage a stop lug 44 struck up or carried by the plate 32, and serving thereby to limit the turning of the disc 36 as well as of the latch spindle and of the door knobs l6 and I8.

Figure 4 shows the limiting position of the disc 36 when it is turned clockwise, and Figure shows its limiting position when it is turned counter-clockwise.

' plate 48 journalled within an opening in the plate 32 and surrounded by a washer 52 to reduce friction. The locking plate 48 has a square opening therein through which is. shown passing the square locking spindle 54, in close engagement, so that the locking plate 48 is constrained to move with the spindle. The latter is shown as carrying at one end, namely the inner or bathroom end thereof, an operating handle 56 having a hub portion journalled in the rose plate 28, and whereby the locking spindle may be turned. The hub portion of the handle 56 has a shoulder abutting plate 28 so as to limit endwise movement of the spindle 54 in one direction, while a pin 58 limits endwise movement of the locking spindle 54 in the opposite direction. A washer 68 is shown interposed between the pin 58 and the rose plate 28 to insure free turning movement of the spindle 54.

The locking plate 48 is also of generally circular contour'with cut-away portions just like the disc 36. Means are provided for limiting its rotation; such means may comprise a cut-away portion 62 provided with shoulders 64 and 65 I adapted to engage a stop lug 66 carried by the base plate 32. r

The locking plate 48 is further provided with a concavely contoured recess 68 formed on the same radius and on the same center as the peripheral portions of the disc 36.

The configurations and mountings of the disc 36 and the locking plate 48 just described, and which in certain respects resemble a Geneva stop motion, permit of an interaction between them that may be understood by referring particularly to Figures 3, 4 and 5.

In Figure 3 the locking plate'48 is in one of its limiting positions, namely its lockingposition, and it will be observed that in this position its circular. peripheral portion extends into the concave recess 46 of the disc 36 and completely fills it, with the result that while the locking plate 43 is free to turn, the disc 36 is locked against roprotruded position.

In Figure 4 the locking plate 48 is shown in a position in which the circular peripheral portion of the disc 36 has entered the concave recess 68 of the locking plate 48, and the latter is locked against rotation, while the disc 36 is free to turn, as far as the effect of locking plate 48 on it is concerned. In the particular position shown in Figure 4 the disc has been turned clockwise into its limiting position with the shoulder 42 against the stop lug 44; consequently it can only be turned counter-clockwise from its position shown in Figure 4, and its turning in the counter-clockwise direction is again limited by the stop lug 44, as shown in Figure 5, which shows the other limiting position of the disc 36.

In Figure 5, while the locking plate 48 is shown in the same position as in Figure 4, it is not locked against rotation, since it will be obvious that it can be turned in a counter-clockwise direction, and when so moved it will exert a driving action on the disc 36 that will result in the disc 36 and plate 48 assuming the positions of Figure 3 in which the disc 36 is locked. Ordinarily, of course the mechanism associated with the latch bolt will cause the spindle "and disc 36 to move automatically into the position of Fi ure 3,.but this driving action may be utilized where for some reason the disc 36 is caught or held in the position of Figure 5.

Conversely, as the locking plate 48 is. moved counter-clockwise from its position of Figure 5, it will be obvious that until a critical position is reached as in Figure'3, the plate 36 may be turned thereby clockwise thus using the locklatching position of Figure 3. This characteristic of my lock may prove valuable where in manipulating the door knobs to turn the latch spindie the latch is jammed so that the spring therefor is ineffective to return it to the latching position such as in Figure 3. The driving action which may be transmitted from the plate 48 to the plate 36 has additional utility in setting the spindle shaft for the latch in the appropriate position for locking.

In order to increase the range within which this relative driving action can take place I have shown the contours of the recess 46 gradually merging into the circular peripheral contour of disc 36. This is effected by' rounding off the cor- .ners that would normally be formed at the meeting points of the recess and the periphery; this rounding off is indicated at 41. A similar rounding off is indicated at 69 for the locking plate 48. As clearly appears from Figures 3, 4 and 5, the locking plate 48 has two limiting positions determined by the lug 66, one of which, in which the disc 36. (and latch spindle l4) are locked, is shown in Figure 3, and the other of which, in which the disc 36 (and latch spindle l4) are free is shown in Figures 4 and 5. To pass from one position to the other requires a quarter of a turn of the locking spindle 54.

In order to hold the locking plate 48 yieldably in either one of these positions I have shown means such as a leaf spring 18 having one end 12 doubled back and pivotally mounted as at 14 on the base plate 32. The end 12 bears a ainst a lug I6 struck up or carried by the plate 32 40 ing plate 48 to turn back the plate 36 into the and determines the position and the tension oi the spring It, the curved free end of which lllli bears againstthe edge ofthe locking plate t8 and'assumesstable positions when it enters the recesses 64 and BB in which it. resists displacement of the locking plate 48; At 8D is shown a tongue adapted to prevent outward movement of the spring ill.

It will also be observed that the disc 3% islimited in motionjto one quarter of a turn. By so limiting the disc it, accurate assembly is greatly facilitated. AI-terthe latch spindle M has been inserted in the bore it and the locking arrange ment is placedthereon by passing the spindle through the square opening in the disc till, all possibility of an incorrect relative positioning of the disc it relatively to the loclring plate ill is precluded, and because the disc it is limited to a turning of one-eighth of a turn'to either side of its loclring position, the relative positions of the spindl i l and disc are determined and limited to a correctinterhtting thereof.

The spindle lid is shown as positioned within the bore of the door and as extending almost through the door to the outside thereof. It is shown as provided with a reces'sti atits outer end intowhlich is adapted to fit aspecia-i key indicated in dotted lines in Figure 6, and intended for emergency use. in order to permit insertion of the lrey ti l, an opening is pro- V vided in the outer rose plate jThe operation of the device will now be briefly the position of Figure 3, and the handle it is then dii till

turned cdtmterwloclrwise which will cause the parts to assume the position of Figure 3, holding the latch locked. ll/laniiestly locking cannot be effected .in the positionflof Figure l, since the locking spindle M ,is held against rotation. If the door knob is releasedit will be caused, by the conventional spring mechanism associated with the latching bolt, to assume the position of Figure 3, and the locking plate 48 can then be turned into the locking position if desired.

Should manipulation of the spindle M be efiected while the plate 36 is in a position shown in Figure 5 theplate 36 will be moved to the position shown in Figure 3. Should also the plate it be in the position shown in Figure 5 by reason of jamming or sticking of the latch 30, a drivingaction will be transmitted from the plate 48 to.

the plate 36. It will thus be observed that accurate alignment of the plate 48 andplate 36 by manipulation of the spindle l4 need not be with the camming edge 18 of .the spring H1 at a more or less critical position, the plate' 36 upon rotation in a counter-clockwise direction may serve to trip the plate 48 to the unlocking position. Thus if an irresponsible person should turn the locking plate 48 from its position shown in Figure 5 ma counter-clockwise direction to the point where the peripheral surface or edge of the extension 11 of the, plate 48 is in contact with the spring-end "it, then in that event the latching thelatch til. In this manner it will be ob served that the device has the property of transmitting movement from the plate it to the plate 3% and conversely from the plate it to the plate it (when a critical position of the plate it is obtained) not only for emergency purposes but when improperly operated by some irresponsible individual. l l

It will also be observed that by aligning oi the spindles l t and i i to each other by rotatively connectedmounting, a compact assembly as provided to some degree carries out certain phases oi my invention disclosed and claimed in my application Serial No. lldilw, filed November 26, i937, in that an existing simple door latch may be modified to provide it with lo-clring mechanism and by the simple expedient, of a boring through the thickness of the door provide emergency means for opera-ting the door loclring device.

In general it will be observed that 1 have pro- M vided a simple and inexpensive locking mechanism where accuracy of alignment of the latch is not necessary for operation for its intended purpose. it will also be observed that while the preferred form oi? my invention contemplates the utilisation of all of the features illustrated, parts thereof may be utilized and the scope of my invention isto be judged by the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claim as new and desire to secur by Letters Patent, ls-- l. In a door loclr comprising a latch operating spindle adapted to pass through a bore in a door, a rose plate adapted for fastening to one side of the door and through which one end of the spindle is adapted to protrude, and locking mechanism for said latch operating spindle adapted to be positioned beneath said rose plate and comprising a rotatable member coaxial with said spindle and rotatable therewith, and a rotatable element adapted to loclr said member against rotation and means for rotating said element adaptllll ed to extendinto a second .bore in said door and carrying operating means at one end, and adapted to be engaged .by a key at its other end and.

arranged to be extended within the confines of said second bore in said door.

2. In a door lock of the non-mortise type, a latch spindl and "a lock spindle, said spindles being mounted for pivotal movement in spaced relation to each other, a disc carried on said latch spindle, said disc'being of generally circular conformation, with portions cut away from its periphery, a locking plate carried on said lock spindle, and said locking plate being also of generally circular conformation, with portions; cut away from its periphery, said disc having a concavely contoured recess therein adapted to be filled by the circular peripheral portions of said locking plate, and said locking plate having a conoavely contoured recess therein adapted to be filled by the circular peripheral portions of said disc, whereby said locking plate may look said disc against rotation, and said disc may lock said locking plate against rotation, and whereby when the wall portions of the 'concavely contoured recess'es of the disc and the locking plate are interengaged the disc may drive the locking plate and the locking plate may drive the disc.

3. A locking device for a door latch .operated by a spindle comprising a plate adapted to be mounted beneath a rose plate associated with said spindle, a disc having means rotatively mounting the same on said plate and including.

means engaging said spindle for mounting the same for positive movement with said spindle, a locking disc having means rotatively mounting the same on said plate, the peripheral edges of said discs having interengaging connection of extended area for transmitting movement to each other and for locking engagement of the one in respect of the other.

4. Locking mechanism for a door lock having a square latch operating spindle, comprising a base plate having an aperturetherein throughwhich the latch spindle passes, a disc having a bushed extension mounted on said base plate having a bearing in said plate and having a square opening therein adapted to receive said latch operating spindle therein whereby it will turn with said spindle, said disc being of generally circular conformation, having .a concavely contoured recess cut out from the peripheral portions thereof, and having a second recess also cut out of the peripheral portions thereof of a shape to form shoulders, a lug on said base plate and adapted to engage said shoulders and thereby to limit the rotation of said disc, a disc-shaped locking plate rotatably mounted on said base plate, said disc being also of generally circular conformation and having a concavely contoured recess cut out from the peripheral portions thereof and a second recess shaped to form shoulders cut out from the peripheral portions thereof, a second lug struck up out of said base plate and adapted to engage said shoulders on the locking plate so as to limit its rotation, and a circular portion of said disc being adapted to fit into said concave recess of said locking plate so as to hold said locking plate against rotation, and a circular portion of said locking plate being adapted to fit into said cancave recess in said disc so as to hold said disc against rotation, spring means mounted on said base plate and engaging the periphery of said locking plate, whereby it will yielclably hold said locking plate in one of two positions determined by said recesses in said locking plate and corresponding respectively to a position in which said circular portion of the disc periphery fits into the concave recess of the locking plate and a position in which said circular portion of the locking plate fits into the concave recess in said disc, and means for setting said locking plate into either one of said positions.

5. Locking means for a door lock having a latch bolt and a latch operating spindle for the latch bolt, said lock including an assembly whereby rotation of said spindle from the normal position in a clockwise and counter-clockwise direction will retract the latch bolt, the combination comprising a plate assembly positionable to one sidei iof said lock and through which said latch operating spindle may extend, said plate including a lock operating spindle, complementary locking means comprising a substantially circular member and a locking element oper atively carried respectively by said spindles for eifecting locking of said latch operating spindle by rotary movement of said lock operating spindle, said member including an orifice therethrough and through which said latch operating spindle may extend in keying engagement, and being formed and mounted on said plate to permit rotation in a clockwise and counter-clockwise direction for distances in either direction of rotation, permitting retraction of the latch bolt, said I member also including a peripheral recess adapted to be interfitted by an unrecessed edge portion of said locking element operated by rotation of said lock operating spindle, said locking element including a recess so that the unrecessed portion of the member may pass by the recessed portion of said element and permit clockwise and counter-clockwise rotation of said latch operating spindle for retraction of said bolt and whereby, by alignment of said element with its unrecessed portion interfitting with the recessed portion of said member, said latch operating spindle .will be held in locked position and whereby positioning of the recessed portion of said element interfitting with the unrecessed periphery of said member, the latch operating spindle may be rotated in a clockwise or counterclockwise position for the purposes aforesaid.

6. Locking means for. a door lock having a latch operating spindle, said lock including an assembly whereby rotation of said spindle in a clockwise and counter-clockwise direction from a normal position will retract the latch, the combination comprising a base plate through which the latch operating spindle extends, a member rotatably mounted on said base plate and provided with an opening adapted to slidably receive said latch operating spindle in keyed engagement with said spindle, said member having a pair of shouldered portions defining a peripheral recess,

the distance between the mid-point of said recess and a shouldered portion being suflicient to permit rotation of the latch operating spindle to retract the latch upon rotation of said latch op- 3 crating spindle in either of the directions aforesaid, and locking means mounted for rotation on said base plate and adapted, in certain positions thereof, to engage and to lock said member against rotation, and means to limit the rotation of said member lying in the path of said shoulders of said member, said means comprising a lug on the base plate normally located adjacent the mid-point between said shoulders of said member.

'7. Locking mechanism for a door lock having a latch operating spindle, said lock including an assembly whereby rotation of said spindle clockwise and counter-clockwise may retract the latch of said lock, the combination therefor comprising a base plate through which the spindle extends, a member rotatably mounted on said base plate and provided with an opening adapted to slidably receive said latch operating spindle in keyed engagement with said member, said member being mounted for free rotation in a clockwise and counter-clockwise direction and having a pair of shouldered portions defining a peripheral recess, the distance between the midpoint of said recess and a shouldered portion being suflicient to retract the latch upon rotation of said latch operating spindle in either of the directions aforesaid, and locking means mounted for rotation on said base plate and adapted, in certain positions thereof, to engage and. to lock said member against rotation, and means to limit the rotation of said member comprising an element lying in the path of the shoulders of said member, said means comprising a lug on the base plate and normally located adjacent the mid-point between said shoulders of said member, said locking means comprisin a generally disc-shaped element and including cammed peripheral portions, a spring mounted upon said base plate adapted to engage said cammed portions of said element, resiliently to mor ar nroo tho ooino into looking or releaoing Wiliflflflii o. ilooo menus for o door lock; provicloo with o lotoii oporotino spindle, saidl locli in on assembly whereby rotation of raid spindle in oitlior a. clockwise or counter oloolr Wise direction from a normal position will serve to retroot the latch of said. lock, the combinatiomoomprioing or. base mlate adapted to be fit iionooth the rose plate oi said door loci: anti through which the latch operating" spindle extends, or monitor rototably mountori on said base pinto onri orovided with a control opening odootorl to sllolobly receive said latch operating oolntllo in keyed engagement with salcl member,

\ told member having a. pair of shoulder portions oleno o the distance between the mitiooint oi ooiol reooss and o. shonloier portion to either side thereof being oimoiont to oermit ro tation oi the latch oporotino opinollo in a direction and for tire purpooe oioresoid, and a look-- ing olement for soiol opincilo rotatololr mounted on soicl plots having a pair of shoulder portions and adapteci, in certain positions thoreof, to engage and to lock saiol member against rotation onci moons to limit the rotation of said member and oisoigi locking element to o. predetermined partiol rotary position, said means lying in the path oi the shoulder portions oi, said member and locking element, oaicimeans comprising logs on the base ploto oml lying in tho path of saint shonloiorerl portions of said. member and locking element.

MURRIS FALK. 

